USA Top 100 Law Schools

According to the U.S. News 2009 Top Law Schools rankings, Yale University, Harvard University, and Stanford University occupy the top three positions, highlighting their dominance in the legal academic and professional fields. These institutions, along with others such as Columbia University, New York University (NYU), and the University of California, Berkeley, make up the top six law schools in the United States and solidify their positions as some of the best in the world.

Yale University took the top spot in the U.S. News 2009 Top Law Schools rankings, firmly establishing itself as the leading law school in the country. Yale's reputation for academic rigor, outstanding faculty, and a strong commitment to interdisciplinary legal studies has solidified its place at the top of the rankings. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale Law School offers a distinctive educational environment that emphasizes intellectual engagement and critical thinking. Yale's J.D. program is unique in its structure, focusing on flexibility and allowing students to explore various areas of law in-depth, rather than adhering to a rigid and prescribed curriculum. Students at Yale benefit from access to some of the brightest legal minds in the world and unparalleled research opportunities. The faculty at Yale Law School is composed of distinguished legal scholars, many of whom are leaders in their respective areas of expertise, and the law school's alumni network is robust and influential, offering students access to powerful professional opportunities after graduation.

Following Yale is Harvard University, which is considered one of the most prestigious institutions in the world for both undergraduate and graduate education. Harvard Law School is one of the oldest and most well-established law schools in the United States and has long been synonymous with excellence in legal education. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and offers one of the most comprehensive and competitive J.D. programs in the country. With a focus on academic rigor, practical application, and professional excellence, Harvard provides students with the tools they need to excel as lawyers and legal scholars. Harvard Law School has a long history of producing influential legal professionals, including Supreme Court justices, government leaders, and prominent attorneys. The school's commitment to a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach to legal education allows students to take a diverse range of courses and explore numerous legal fields. Harvard's resources, faculty expertise, and networking opportunities make it an attractive choice for law students worldwide.

Stanford University shares the second spot with Harvard in the U.S. News rankings. Stanford Law School is located in Stanford, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley, offering students unique opportunities to engage with technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship in addition to traditional legal studies. Stanford's program is distinguished by its emphasis on innovation, intellectual property law, and interdisciplinary learning, particularly given its proximity to the technology hub of Silicon Valley. The law school offers a dynamic and forward-thinking curriculum that integrates law with fields like economics, business, and technology. The faculty members at Stanford are world-renowned for their expertise in their respective fields, and the university has a strong commitment to fostering cutting-edge legal scholarship and preparing students for modern legal careers. Stanford's global influence and strategic location make it a top destination for students interested in technology law, corporate law, and legal innovation.

Columbia University ranks fourth in the U.S. News 2009 list, offering students a combination of tradition, excellence, and location. Situated in New York City, Columbia Law School provides access to one of the world's most vibrant legal markets and opportunities to engage with diverse legal communities. Columbia's J.D. program emphasizes both theoretical and practical learning, and students benefit from Columbia's distinguished faculty members, alumni network, and professional connections. With a strong focus on international and comparative law, Columbia also attracts students interested in exploring law on a global scale. The location of Columbia in New York City enhances the educational experience, allowing students access to top-tier law firms, courts, government offices, and other legal institutions.

New York University (NYU) comes in at fifth place in the 2009 rankings. Like Columbia, NYU enjoys a prime location in New York City, which provides students with access to unparalleled opportunities for practical legal experiences and professional networking. NYU School of Law is known for its innovative programs, interdisciplinary curriculum, and strong emphasis on public service and social justice. It offers students numerous clinical opportunities, allowing them to gain practical, hands-on experience while studying topics like constitutional law, international law, human rights law, and environmental law. NYU is also known for its commitment to fostering diversity and social responsibility among its students, further distinguishing it as one of the most progressive and inclusive law schools in the United States.

The University of California, Berkeley, ranks sixth on the list, further highlighting its reputation as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking law schools in the nation. Berkeley Law, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, is celebrated for its commitment to academic excellence, interdisciplinary studies, and social justice. Berkeley Law's reputation is particularly strong in areas such as environmental law, constitutional law, business law, and technology law. The university offers students the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge legal issues in a collaborative and innovative academic environment. Berkeley Law boasts a strong faculty committed to scholarship and practical legal training, and the school's location provides access to a dynamic legal and professional community. Its emphasis on interdisciplinary exploration allows students to study law in the context of its intersection with economics, technology, and social sciences.

These six universities—Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, NYU, and Berkeley—represent the pinnacle of legal education in the United States and the world. They are leaders in producing accomplished legal scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, and their programs are distinguished by rigorous academics, accomplished faculty, and dynamic legal communities. Their rankings in the U.S. News 2009 report demonstrate their ability to maintain leadership in legal education and adapt to the changing needs of the legal profession.

These top law schools are not just limited to producing strong graduates but are centers for groundbreaking legal research and policy development. They have consistently shaped American legal thought and international legal trends by contributing important scholarship in fields ranging from constitutional law to environmental law, corporate law, technology law, and human rights law. These universities are committed to fostering leadership, innovation, and professionalism among their students, preparing them for careers that have a profound impact on the legal landscape both domestically and globally.

US News Top 100 Law Schools (Best Graduate Schools Ranking):

1 Yale University New Haven, CT
2 Harvard University Cambridge, MA
2 Stanford University Stanford, CA
4 Columbia University New York, NY
5 New York University New York, NY
6 University of California--Berkeley Berkeley, CA
7 University of Chicago Chicago, IL
7 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
9 Northwestern University Chicago, IL
9 University of Michigan--Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI
9 University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA
12 Cornell Univ Ithaca, NY
12 Duke Univ Durham, NC
14 Georgetown Univ Washington, DC
15 Vanderbilt Univ Nashville, TN
16 U of California--Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
16 U of Texas--Austin Austin, TX
18 U of Southern California (Gould) Los Angeles, CA
19 Washington Univ in St. Louis St. Louis, MO
20 George Washington Univ Washington, DC
21 Boston Univ Boston, MA
22 Emory Univ Atlanta, GA
22 U of Minnesota--Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN
22 U of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
25 Washington and Lee Univ Lexington, VA
26 Boston College Newton, MA
27 Fordham Univ New York, NY
27 U of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL
27 U of Iowa Iowa City, IA
30 College of William and Mary (Marshall-Wythe) Williamsburg, VA
30 U of Washington Seattle, WA
32 Ohio State Univ (Moritz) Columbus, OH
32 U of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL
32 U of Colorado--Boulder Boulder, CO
32 U of Georgia Athens, GA
36 Indiana Univ--Bloomington Bloomington, IN
36 U of Wisconsin--Madison Madison, WI
38 George Mason Univ Arlington, VA
38 U of Arizona (Rogers) Tucson, AZ
38 U of California (Hastings) San Francisco, CA
38 U of North Carolina--Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
42 U of Maryland Baltimore, MD
42 Wake Forest Univ Winston-Salem, NC
44 Tulane Univ New Orleans, LA
44 U of California--Davis Davis, CA
46 American Univ (Washington) Washington, DC
46 Brigham Young Univ (Clark) Provo, UT
46 Southern Methodist Univ Dallas, TX
46 U of Connecticut Hartford, CT
46 U of Florida (Levin) Gainesville, FL
51 U of Utah Salt Lake City, UT
52 Arizona State Univ (O'Connor) Tempe, AZ
52 U of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH
52 U of Tennessee--Knoxville Knoxville, TN
55 Baylor Univ (Umphrey) Waco, TX
55 Florida State Univ Tallahassee, FL
55 U of Houston Houston, TX
55 Yeshiva Univ (Cardozo) New York, NY
59 Pepperdine Univ Malibu, CA
59 Temple Univ (Beasley) Philadelphia, PA
59 U of Kentucky Lexington, KY
59 U of Missouri--Columbia Columbia, MO
63 Brooklyn Law School Brooklyn, NY
63 Case Western Reserve Univ Cleveland, OH
63 Loyola Marymount Univ Los Angeles, CA
66 Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago-Kent) Chicago, IL
66 Seton Hall U Newark, NJ
68 Indiana U--Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
68 U of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM
68 U of Oklahoma Norman, OK
68 U of Richmond (Williams) Richmond, VA
68 Villanova Univ Villanova, PA
73 Lewis and Clark College (Northwestern) Portland, OR
73 U of Kansas Lawrence, KS
73 U of Nebraska--Lincoln Lincoln, NE
73 U of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA
77 Georgia State Univ Atlanta, GA
77 Pennsylvania State U (Dickinson) University Park, PA
77 Rutgers, the State U of New Jersey--Camden Camden, NJ
77 Rutgers, the State U of New Jersey--Newark Newark, NJ
77 Santa Clara Univ Santa Clara, CA
82 Loyola Univ Chicago Chicago, IL
82 Seattle Univ Seattle, WA
82 U of Hawaii (Richardson) Honolulu, HI
82 U of Miami Coral Gables, FL
82 U of Oregon Eugene, OR
82 U of San Diego San Diego, CA
88 Catholic U of America (Columbus) Washington, DC
88 DePaul Univ Chicago, IL
88 Louisiana State Univ--Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA
88 Northeastern Univ Boston, MA
88 St. John's Univ Jamaica, NY
88 U of Denver (Sturm) Denver, CO
88 U of Nevada--Las Vegas (Boyd) Las Vegas, NV
95 Marquette Univ Milwaukee, WI
95 St. Louis Univ St. Louis, MO
95 U of South Carolina Columbia, SC
95 U of the Pacific (McGeorge) Sacramento, CA
99 Hofstra Univ Hempstead, NY
100 Mercer Univ Macon, GA
100 Stetson Univ Gulfport, FL
100 Syracuse Univ Syracuse, NY
100 U at Buffalo--SUNY Buffalo, NY
100 U of Louisville (Brandeis) Louisville, KY

Source: US News 2009